Systems and methods for utilizing rfid technology to facilitate a gaming system

ABSTRACT

In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a Continuation Application of PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2016/032797, filed on May 16, 2016 in the name of Moore et al.and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING RFID TECHNOLOGY TOFACILITATE A GAMING SYSTEM. This PCT Application claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to, and is a non-provisional of, U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/161,915 filed on May 15, 2015 filed in thename of Moore et al. and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING RFIDTECHNOLOGY TO FACILIATE A GAMING SYSTEM. The contents of each of theabove-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by referenceherein for all purposes.

INTRODUCTION

The present embodiments are directed to tracking of activity at tablegames and within a gaming establishment and particularly to using radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology to track and manageRFID-enabled game elements and game activity utilizing such gameelements. In some embodiments, systems are provided which performfunctions responsive to data obtained from RFID-enabled game elements.Such functions may comprise, for example, managing, tracking andalerting personnel to a status of an inventory of a game elementcontainer (e.g., RFID-enabled wagering chips in a dealer's RFID-enabledchip tray at a table game), such that missing game elements andout-of-balance events can be detected and communicated (and, in someembodiments, rectified) in a timely and useful fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system operable to facilitate at leastsome embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an antenna or interrogator layout on asmart table for facilitating a baccarat game, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top planar view of a smart table for facilitating abaccarat game, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a table system operable tofacilitate at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example user interface which outputs informationregarding a chip inventory of an RFID-enabled chip tray.

FIG. 5B illustrates the example user interface of FIG. 5A withindicators of an out of balance status of the corresponding RFID-enablechip tray being highlighted.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example user interface for outputting alerts ornotifications to a user, in accordance with some embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an example process consistent withsome embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example process consistent withsome embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example process consistent withsome embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Described herein are systems, processes and articles of manufacturewhich provide for facilitating wagering activity on an RFID-enabledtable (e.g., wagering activity in a baccarat, blackjack or roulettegame). An RFID-enabled table, as the term is used herein, comprises atable operable to facilitate a game (e.g., a card game such as baccarat)and equipped with at least one RFID antenna or interrogator (describedin more detail elsewhere herein) that is operable to detect, and readdata from, RFID-enabled game elements placed on the table (e.g.,RFID-enabled wagering chips placed on bet spots on the table or othergame elements that correspond to monetary value). In accordance withsome embodiments, systems, processes and articles of manufacture providefor leveraging the RFID-tracking capability of the table in forfunctions such as tracking (e.g., in real-time) the inventory of anRFID-enabled game element container (e.g., a chip tray) associated withsuch a table, comparing expected inventory data to actual inventory dataof the game element container, determining out-of-balance events andalerting personnel to out-of-balance or other events based on the gameelement inventory data in a timely manner that allows for correction ofthe out-of-balance events (particularly for variances greater than apredetermined threshold that are of particular concern to a gameprovider) and thus prevents or minimizes significant revenue losses to agame provider. In some embodiments, a table system is operable to prompta dealer or other casino personnel to correct or rectify anout-of-balance event determined for a game element container (e.g., achip tray) in an efficient and timely manner (e.g., prior to closing outthe current hand or prior to initiation of the next hand, when theplayers of the current hand are still at the table). For example, thesystem may output to the dealer sufficient information (e.g., playerposition corresponding to a game element that is missing from a gameelement container, a value or other characteristic of the game elementthat will allow the dealer to quickly and efficiently identify the gameelement on the game surface, etc.) to allow the dealer to efficientlycorrect the out-of-balance event without undesirable slowdown orinterruption to the flow of the game and before players have a chance toleave the game. Such corrective action may, in some embodiments, only beprompted for certain levels or magnitudes of variances or out-of-balanceevents.

Applicant has recognized that in many situations it is difficult torectify an out-of-balance event (e.g., by tracking down and collecting awagering chip that a dealer failed to collect from a player at the endof a hand or that a dealer overpaid to a player) if the correctingactivity is not done in real time as the game event that is the sourceof the out-of-balance event is being finalized. After the finalizationof game play for a game event, players may move to different games orgame activity in subsequent game events may introduce complexities andmovement of game elements that make it burdensome or unreliable toaccurately determine a source of an out-of-balance event and/or collecta game element from a player for a previously completed game event (orto do so in a manner that does not raise the irritation or othernegative reaction of players).

To date, game providers are often made aware that dealers incorrectlycollected payments or value during game events (or paid out incorrectpayments or value) after game events are completed (e.g., based onend-of-shift or end-of-day accounting reports) but are unable to correctthese mistakes afterwards based on at least the reasons described above,and are thus forced to absorb the resulting revenue losses (which cansometimes result in significant amounts of losses, such as thousands oreven millions of dollars over a course of a year). Accordingly, theprovision of real-time information to a dealer or other casinopersonnel, that not only provide an indication of an out-of-balance orvariance status of a game element container but also providesinformation about a particular game element (or characteristic of aparticular game element) that allows the dealer or other casinopersonnel to correct the out-of-balance or variance status relativelyclose to the game event that is the source of the status. Thecapabilities and efficiencies of the inventive RFID-enabled tablesystems described herein allow for sufficient data to be read from gameelements on the table, and from a game element container during gameplay that, when combined with Applicant's program logic employed by theprocessor(s) of the table system, allows for specific and timelyinformation to be provided to a dealer or other casino personnel at theend of each game event (e.g., hand of a baccarat game). This allows forgame providers to prevent or minimize significant losses due toincorrect collection or payment of value during game play that waspreviously absorbed by the game providers.

Various embodiments described herein will refer to a game elementcontainer comprising a chip tray and game elements comprising wageringchips, for illustrative purposes. Other types of game elements arewithin the scope of the present description (e.g., cards, dice, tokens)as are other types of game element containers (e.g., card shoes,containers for storing dice or tokens).

In accordance with some embodiments, the system is operable to determineand track the location and movement of RFID-enabled chips on the tableand into/out of the dealer's chip tray, allowing for determination ofgame event data throughout a game, as well as chip inventory data basedon expected payouts, commissions, lost wagers, refills and other eventswhich can cause modifications to an inventory of a chip tray.

In accordance with some embodiments, a system is provided which includesat least one table having a plurality of antennas or interrogatorsplaced thereon, for use in recognizing the placement of an RFID-enabledchip on one or more positions of the table or components of the table(e.g., an RFID-enabled chip tray).

In accordance with some embodiments, a smart table system whichcomprises at least one processor and a memory is operable to track theexpected balance of its integrated RFID-enabled chip tray and alertsstaff to one or more predetermined events (e.g., the count and value ofmissing chips). In one embodiment, the system validates every RFID chipthat enters and leaves the RFID-enabled chip tray against at least onetransaction or game event (e.g., a fill event, a payout event, acommission collection event, a losing event, etc.). The system mayfurther be operable to alert a user (e.g., gaming establishmentpersonnel) if a variance is identified as between RFID-enabled chipswhich are expected to be in the RFID-enabled chip tray and RFID-enabledchips which are actually detected as being in the RFID-enabled chiptray. A difference or variance between expected data (e.g., an expectedvalue, count and/or particularly identified chips which are expected tobe in the RFID-enabled chip tray based on previously determined data andone or more intervening transactions or game events) and actual data(e.g., an actual value, count and/or particularly identified chips whichare detected to be in the RFID-enabled tray) is referred to herein as a“tray variance” or “out of balance” status or condition of the tray. Inone embodiment a process for determining whether a tray variance ispresent may be performed periodically, non-periodically upon anoccurrence of a predetermined event or at a request of a user. Forexample, a process for determining whether a tray variance is presentwith respect to a particular RFID-enabled chip tray may be performed(e.g., by a processor of a smart table, a processor of a server deviceoperable to receive data from a smart table and/or a processor of theRFID-enabled chip tray) (i) after every game or hand of a game; (ii)after each RFID-enabled chip transaction throughout the day; and/or(iii) on-demand when a user requests an inventory scan of theRFID-enabled chip tray.

In accordance with some embodiments, a table system may be operable todetect or recognize tray variances due to one or more of the following“missing chip” scenarios: (i) stolen chips; (ii) chips lost by a playerin a wager not being properly collected by the dealer; (iii) a dealeroverpaying a player; (iv) erroneous credit and/or fill transactions; and(v) missing banker commissions.

In accordance with some embodiments, when a chip tray is determined tohave an out of balance status or there is determined to be a trayvariance with respect to a particular RFID-enabled chip tray, one ormore events and/or outputs may be triggered. In one embodiment, an “outof balance” notification or message may be output to a user (e.g., to adealer dealing chips out of the tray, a supervisor or other personnel ofa gaming establishment). For example, (i) an on-screen balance indicatormay indicate an “out of balance” status of the chip tray (e.g., asillustrated in FIG. 5B); (ii) an “actual tray balance” value may beupdated while an “expected tray balance” value may remain unchanged froma previously determined value; (iii) a “variance in balance” value maybe updated to reflect the value of missing chip(s) or the difference inthe actual tray balance and the expected tray balance; (iv) an inventorymessage area of a user interface may display an out of balance messagethat includes the expected balance, the actual balance and the varianceamount; (v) a user alert may be generated and output on a screen, pageor area of a user interface, indicating the expected balance, actualbalance and the variance amount; and/or (vi) a text, SMS or e-mailmessage may be generated and transmitted to one or more users, includingwithout limitation, dealers, supervisors, and security personnel.

As described, one cause for an RFID-enabled chip being missing from atray may be fraudulent (e.g., intentional and unauthorized) removal ofthe RFID-enabled chip from the chip tray (e.g., by casino personnel or aplayer). In such a scenario, the missing chip or missing chip value maybe identified, for example: (i) upon the next on-demand scan of thetray's inventory; (ii) when a Fill transaction is submitted orconfirmed; (iii) when a Credit transaction is submitted; and/or (iv)after the next end-of-game (or end-of-hand) inventory scan and inventorycheck.

Another cause for an RFID-enabled chip being missing from a tray may bea dealer inadvertently or erroneously not collecting the chip from aplayer upon a player losing a wager (e.g., the dealer collects anincorrect, lower, number or value of chips when collecting the losingwagers from the table upon a conclusion of a hand or other game event).In such a scenario, the missing chip or missing chip value may beidentified, for example: (i) in real-time at the end of the hand when alosing chip is not taken by the dealer or is taken by a player insteadof the dealer; and/or (ii) during an end-of-game inventory scan andinventory check which identifies a tray variance.

In some embodiments, an out of balance notification or alert may betriggered upon a tray variance being identified (e.g., due to afraudulently removed chip or an uncollected chip that should have beencollected from elsewhere on the table and placed into the RFID-enabledchip tray). In some embodiments, such an out of balance notification mayinclude data or information indicating at least one of (i) the tableposition from which the losing chips are missing (or from which thechip(s) were not collected), (ii) a player identifier associated withthe missing chip(s); (iii) the total value of the missing chips, and(iii) the count by denomination and/or chip set of each missing chip.

Yet another cause for an RFID-enabled chip being missing from a tray maybe a dealer overpaying a winning bet spot. In some embodiments thedealer may then attempt to correct the error by removing the overpaymentfrom the appropriate player's position, but then giving the chip(s) to awinning player or removing the chip(s) from the table instead of placingthe chip(s) into the chip tray. In such a scenario an out of balancenotification or alert may include additional detail such as at least oneof (i) the table position where the overpayment event occurred; (ii) thetotal value of the overpaid chips; and (iii) the count by denominationand/or chip set of each overpaid chip.

Another cause for an RFID-enabled chip being missing from a tray may bea user (e.g., a dealer or other gaming establishment personnel)initiating a Credit or Fill transaction, but then fraudulently removingan RFID-enabled chip from the tray and then either attempting tocomplete the transaction, or cancelling the transaction. In accordancewith some embodiments, a cancellation or attempted cancellation of anin-progress Credit or Fill transaction may trigger an inventory scan andaudit (e.g., an initiation of a process which compares expected data toactual data). If a result of such an inventory scan and audit is adetermination that chip(s) were not returned to the chip tray asexpected or were added to the tray in error, an out of balancenotification or alert may be generated and/or output. In one embodiment,if a user initiates a Fill transaction, but then fraudulently removesone or more chips after the Fill chips are placed in the tray and thetransaction is finalized, an out of balance notification or alert may begenerated and/or output. In some embodiments, a confirmation of a Filltransaction may automatically trigger a secondary scan that confirmsthat all chips identified as part of the chip fill transaction (e.g., asdetected on an antenna in a dealer position or area of the table) aresubsequently verified as being present in the RFID-enabled chip traywhen the transaction is confirmed by the user.

Yet another cause for an RFID-enabled chip being missing from a tray maybe a dealer's failure to collect the accurate commission payments fromone or more players. In some baccarat games, a gaming establishmentcollects a fee (e.g., a percentage of a win amount and/or a wageramount) for certain wagers or results (e.g., the gaming establishmentmay collect 5% from certain win amounts as its commission). An error mayoccur, for example, when a dealer pays a winning bet (e.g., a winningBanker bet) in the full or “gross” amount but does not take the correctcommission payment from the player. In accordance with some baccaratrules, a Winning Banker wager may be paid 1 to 1 but the player must paythe house a 5% commission, effectively lowering the payout to 95% of thebet amount. Frequently a dealer will pay the winning bet the full amount(1 to 1 payout) and then collect the 5% commission from the player.Common errors associated with this transaction include the dealerfailing to collect the 5% commission owed after paying the full or grosspayout, a player under-paying the value of the commission, or a guestpaying the commission with chips over the value of the commissionrequiring the dealer to make change for the 5% payment which can be anarithmetically challenging and error-prone calculation than can resultin overpaying the bet and/or under collecting the commission owed by theplayer. In some embodiments, an out of balance notifications or alertgenerated and/or output based on a tray variance attributed to anerroneous commission fee collection may include information such as thepositions where winning banker bets were paid in gross. In someembodiments, payments of commission fees (or collection by a dealer ofsuch fees) may also be tracked during game play. For example, a featureof the system may be operable to uniquely identify the count,denomination and total value of RFID-enabled chips a player contributestoward the payment of the commission due (e.g., a commission due on awinning Banker wager). Such a tracking feature may ensure that the fulland correct value of commissions are consistently collected (e.g., forwinning Banker bets) and that when players over-pay commission thedealer is prompted to return the correct change.

In accordance with some embodiments, a smart table system includes adealer display (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 3), which may comprise adisplay facing the dealer and for outputting information to the dealer.The dealer display may, in some embodiments, be operable to receive dataand/or instructions from a processor (e.g., a processor integrated withthe dealer display, another processor of the table at which the dealerdisplay is located and/or a remote processor of a server device) and tooutput information to the dealer based on this data and/or instructions.The data and/or instructions may be based on data read from one or moreRFID-enabled chips in the RFID-enabled chip tray of the table orelsewhere on the table. For example, the dealer display may be utilizedto show, per position on the table, the amount of commission owed andthe payout value (e.g., net commission) for each winning bet (e.g., eachwinning Banker bet) per player position. The commission payment trackingfeature may be configured to track the player's commission contributionon either or both the Player/Banker betting antennas located at theplayer's table position. When chips are added to a Player/Banker betspot in a value that is neither the net nor the gross payout value forthe winning Banker bet, the chips may, in some embodiments, be flaggedas comprising the player's contribution toward their owed commission.That value may then be utilized to update both the “commission owed” andthe “payout value” amounts output on the dealer display. The dealer may,in some embodiments, be prompted to pay the indicated payout amount(s)and the collect player commission contribution(s). For example, in someembodiments an instruction or prompt may be output to a dealer via adealer display. In some embodiments, the dealer display may further beoperable, based on data and/or information received from a processor, tooutput at least one of the following prompts to the dealer, asappropriate under the circumstances:

-   -   1. If the player does not contribute toward their commission        payment, the dealer may be prompted to pay the winning bet net        commission owed;    -   2. If the player contributes an amount in excess of commission        owed, the dealer may be prompted to payout net payout plus        change owed;    -   3. Where the player contributes an amount less than their        commission owed, the dealer may be prompted to reduce the        corresponding payout accordingly.

In accordance with some embodiments, a table system which includes anRFID-enabled chip tray as well as various antennas for readinginformation from RFID-enabled chips placed on the table, may be operableto perform a verification validating the placement of the appropriateplayer's commission payment chips (and the correct values of such placedchips, based on an expected commission amount which has been calculatedbased on game data) into the chip tray before end-of-game (e.g., beforea new hand is allowed to be dealt or initiated). In some embodiments,such a verification of the appropriate placement of RFID-enabled chipsinto the chip tray may be performed during an inventory scan and auditcheck performed at another time.

Various systems and several examples are provided herein. The presentdisclosure will focus on baccarat as an example, but it should beappreciated that similar functionality may be applied to otherRFID-enabled table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, Sic Bo, PaiGow (tile and poker variations), LET IT RIDE™, CARIBBEAN STUD™, 3-CARDPOKER, 4-CARD POKER, SPANISH 21, variants of such games (e.g., Chemin deFer), or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is a system 100 which maybe useful in implementing at least some embodiments described herein.The system 100 may comprise, for example, a system within a particulargaming establishment which includes a plurality of smart tables forfacilitating card games. In accordance with at least some embodiments,the system 100 includes a table game server 110 (e.g., for managingchip, player and/or game activities at one or more connected smarttables) that is in communication, via a communications network 130, withone or more table systems 120. The table game server 110 may communicatewith the table systems 120 directly or indirectly, via a wired orwireless medium such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring,or via any appropriate communications means or combination ofcommunications means. Each of the table systems 120 may comprisecomputers, such as those based on the INTEL® PENTIUM® processor, thatare adapted to communicate with the table game server 110. Any numberand type of table systems 120 may be in communication with the tablegame server 110, although only three (3) in the example of FIG. 1.

Communication between the table systems 120 and the table game server110, and (in some embodiments) among the table systems 120, may bedirect or indirect, such as over the Internet through a Web sitemaintained by table game server 110 on a remote server or over anon-line data network including commercial on-line service providers,bulletin board systems and the like. In yet other embodiments, the tablesystems 120 may communicate with one another and/or table game server110 over RF, cable TV, satellite links and the like.

Some, but not all, possible communication networks that may comprisenetwork 130 or be otherwise part of system 100 include: a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a telephoneline, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, asatellite communications link. Possible communications protocols thatmay be part of system 100 include: Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP,Bluetooth™, and TCP/IP. Communication may be encrypted to ensure privacyand prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.

Those skilled in the art will understand that devices in communicationwith each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. Onthe contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other asnecessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of thetime. For example, a device in communication with another device via theInternet may not transmit data to the other device for weeks at a time.

In some embodiments, the table game server 110 may not be necessaryand/or preferred. For example, at least some embodiments describedherein may be practiced on a stand-alone table system 120 and/or a tablesystem 120 in communication only with one or more other table systems120 or a dedicated server device. In such an embodiment, any functionsdescribed as performed by the table game server 110 or data described asstored on the table game server 110 may instead be performed by orstored on one or more table systems 120.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is one embodiment of how aplurality of interrogators or antennas may be placed on a table (whichmay be one embodiment of table system 120 of FIG. 1), in a manner thatfacilitates some of the embodiments described herein. The tableillustrated in FIG. 2 includes seven (7) distinct player positionsarranged in a semi-circular configuration. Placed at each respectiveplayer position is a set of two antennas or interrogators 210 a-210 g,one for each bet spot or bet position available at each respectiveplayer position. For example, one antenna at a respective playerposition may be for recognizing a bet on Banker (e.g., recognizingRFID-enabled chips placed on the Player bet spot) and the other antennamay be for recognizing a bet on Player (e.g., recognizing RFID-enabledchips placed on the Player bet spot). Thus, if a player were to place awager (e.g., one or more RFID-enabled chips) on a bet spot associatedwith one of the antennas at the player position associated with the setof antennas 210 a, the antenna would recognize such placement (i.e., theantenna nearest to which the chips are placed would “acquire” thechip(s) comprising the wager).

The table illustrated in FIG. 2 further comprises a dealer area at whichis positioned an antenna 220. The dealer area antenna 220 mayfacilitate, for example, calculations and verifications of stack totalsfor table fills, credits, buy-ins and color-ups (e.g. by reading andproviding data regarding one or more chips acquired by the dealer areaantenna 220).

In some embodiments, a smart table such as that illustrated in FIG. 2may include an RFID-enabled chip tray 230 within which is placed atleast one antenna 220A. In some embodiments, an RFID-enabled chip traycomprises two layers or trays (e.g., an upper tray and a lower traywithin the same housing) and each tray may be associated with (e.g.,have placed within its area) its own antenna. For example, one antennamay be placed beneath the upper tray and function to read the chips inthe upper tray while another antenna may be placed beneath the lowertray and function to reads the chips in the lower tray. In oneembodiment, the trays may be read or “scanned” independently (i.e., thevalue or other data of chips placed therein may be read); in otherembodiments, the chips in the upper and lower trays may be readsimultaneously. In one embodiment, the chip tray antenna(s) 220A mayinteract with the dealer area antenna 220 (or a processor which receivesdata from both the chip tray antenna(s) 220A and the dealer area antenna220 may take into account the data of the antenna(s) 220A along with thedata of the antenna 220) to ensure that chips implicated in certaintransactions (e.g., chips included in a Fill transactions) are actuallyrecognized as having been placed into the chip tray after being countedand confirmed on the dealer antenna.

In some embodiments (not shown in FIG. 2), a table system 129 mayinclude at least one shared or common bet positions or bet spots, eachassociated with a distinct antenna. For example, in one embodimentparticular types of additional bets may be made available via shared orcommon bet positions and each such bet spot may include its own antenna:one antenna may be placed at a Player Pair bet spot, another antenna maybe placed at a Banker Pair bet spot, and two antennas may each be placedat a Tie bet spot. Further, Applicants have recognized that in somecases, it may be beneficial to provide for common or “shared” bettingareas. That is, rather than associating or providing a plurality ofphysical betting areas for each individual player seated at the gamingtable, it may be beneficial to instead offer one or more common bettingareas (each associated with a given wager type), accessible to allplayers. Each such common or shared bet spot may have associatedtherewith its own antenna.

In some embodiments, player wagers placed upon such shared betting areasof the gaming table may be identified and/or associated with respectiveplayer(s) having placed such wagers via one or more RFID antennasincorporated into the layout of the table itself. In one embodiment, aplayer desiring to place such a wager may indicate his interest in doingso (e.g. audibly, via a hand signal) to the dealer. Thereafter, thedealer may place physical chips representing the player's wager on afirst dedicated area of the gaming table associated with the player(e.g., a player position of the table at which the player is sitting),the first dedicated area being associated with a particular RFIDantenna. The RFID antenna may then transmit an indication of the wageramount and associated player (or player position) to a processor (e.g.,a processor of the table system), which then stores data associated withthe wager. Thereafter, the dealer (and/or player) may move the chipsrepresenting the player's wager to a second “shared” area of the gamingtable, which may be associated with a second RFID antenna. Uponresolution of a game instance associated with the wager (e.g. uponcompletion of a hand of baccarat), an outcome associated with the wageris determined (e.g. win/loss) along with any corresponding payout thatmay be entitled to the player. If the player is entitled to a payout,the dealer may then place chips representing such payout on the seconddedicated area of the table. The payout is recorded by the tablecomputer via the second RFID antenna. The original wager and payout maythen be placed on the first dedicated are (associated with the firstRFID antenna), serving to thereby record an indication of the payouthaving been provided to the associated player.

The antennas incorporated into a table such as the table illustrated inFIG. 2 may be placed within an insert under the felt or other coveringof the table. Each antenna may have a predetermined range within whichit recognizes, determines, identifies or acquires a chip. Thus, if oneor more chips comprising a wager is placed within the acquire range of aparticular antenna, it may be inferred or determined that a player(e.g., the player who is associated with the acquired chip(s)) isplacing a bet on the bet spot associated with the antenna.

It should be noted that the number and placement of antennas illustratedin FIG. 2 is exemplary only and should not be construed in a limitingmanner. For example, more than two antennas may be associated with agiven player position. In some embodiments, a first antenna associatedwith a given player position is associated with a first player (e.g.,the primary player playing at that position) while a second antennaassociated with a given player position is associated with a secondplayer (e.g., a remote player or back betting player). In someembodiments, each antenna of a table may be uniquely identified, suchthat if data or information is received from a particular antenna, thatdata or communication may comprise a unique identifier of the antennathat allows for a determination of the bet spot and player positionassociated with that data or communication.

An antenna such as any of those illustrated with respect to FIG. 2 maydetermine, read, receive, obtain, recognize or determine variousinformation or data from or about an RFID-enabled chip placed within apredetermined range of the interrogator. The following are examples orsome of the information or data that may be so determined: (i) a uniquechip identifier, which uniquely identifies the chip; (ii) a currency ofthe chip; (iii) a denomination of the chip (which may be its monetaryvalue; in the case of a token it may comprise the token type); (iv) achip set identifier, which differentiates types of chips or represents acategory of a chip (e.g., cash vs. non-negotiable, promotional,differentiating tokens from monetary chips, chip validity); (v) a casinoidentifier that uniquely identifies a casino or other registered gamingcorporation associated with the chip (this information may also be usedto determine chip validity); (vi) a site identifier that uniquelyidentifies a location for which the chip is valid; (vii) a gamingcompany identifier that uniquely identifies a casino or other registeredgaming corporation, and (v iii) a “casino site” identifier that uniquelyidentifies the physical casino site

It should be noted that not all of the above information is necessary ordesirable for all embodiments. It should further be noted that any orall of the above-listed information may be stored in a memory of a givenchip and transmitted to an interrogator via a signal from the chip.

An RFID-enabled chip which may be used in at least some embodiments mayinclude (i) an RFID tag or memory, (ii) an electronic circuit orprocessor and (iii) an antenna. An RFID-enabled chip usable in at leastsome embodiments may be similar or identical to those disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,166,502; 5,676,376; 6,021,949; and 6,296,190, and U.S.Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004/0207156 and 2004/0219982 whichare all incorporated by reference in their entireties. No particulartype of RFID-enabled chip is required for the embodiments describedherein, so long as the chip can support the functionality described withrespect thereto. In some embodiments, each chip may store in its memory(and communicate to an antenna of a table as described herein) a uniqueserial number, a chipset identifier, an associated player identifier orother information. The gaming establishment (e.g., casino) or otherentity may associate values, categories, denominations or other valueswith each serial number. The association may be in a look-up table orthe like. Alternatively, the unique identifier of a given chip may beencoded to include information therein. Likewise, a chip may becolor-coded or include other indicia that indicates a value or otherinformation to the player or dealer. In some embodiments, plaques may beused instead of chips (e.g., for exceedingly large denominations).

In some embodiments, an RFID-enabled chip may be an active chip whichincludes its own battery or power source. In other embodiments, anRFID-enabled chip may be a passive chip which does not include its ownpower source. In on embodiment, an electronic circuit and antenna of agiven chip may act as a transponder capable of responding to aninterrogator or antenna of the table (e.g., an antenna of anRFID-enabled chip tray of the table). The interrogator or antenna may bea sensor or other component operable to detect, recognize, determine,identify or sense the presence (or absence) of an RFID-enabled chip. Theinterrogator or antenna may also be operable to detect, determine,identify, recognize or receive various information about a chip (e.g.,chip identifier, chip set identifier, chip denomination, chip status,etc.). The interrogator or antenna of a table or chip tray may also beoperable to transmit information to one or more processors or memories(e.g., information regarding the presence or absence of a chip in acertain location, an identifier of a chip, etc.). Such one or moreprocessors or memories may be components of (i) a table, (ii) acomponent of a table (e.g., of a dealer display or chip tray) and/or(iii) a server device operable to communicate with one or more tables.

In accordance with some embodiments, an interrogator or antenna of atable (E.g., an antenna of the set of antennas 210 a and/or an antenna220A of a chip tray) may send out an electromagnetic signal thatimpinges upon the antenna of an RFID-enabled chip, exciting a currentwithin electronic circuit of the chip. In response to the excitedcurrent, the electronic circuit of the chip may cause the antenna of thechip to emit a second electromagnetic signal as a response, which isreceived by the interrogator or antenna of the table which had sent outthe electromagnetic signal. The second signal may comprise identifyinginformation about the chip such that the interrogator can identify thechip on receipt of the second signal. The second signal may be generatedpassively or actively. That is, in a first embodiment, the energy fromthe interrogation signal provides sufficient power for the electroniccircuit of the chip to use to send the second signal. In a secondembodiment, the electronic circuit of the chip may include a battery orother power source, which is used to power the generation of the secondsignal.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is a planar view of a smarttable 300, which may be operable to facilitate one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. The table 300 may comprise the table of FIG. 2, butwith a felt or other covering hiding the antennas placed underneath. Inmany respects, the smart table 300 may appear to a player as a regularbaccarat table, with the RFID capabilities of the table not beingreadily discernable. The table 300 is configured for a baccarat game butthe embodiments described herein are not limited to baccarat and asimilar table may be provided with a top layout appropriate forfacilitating another game (e.g., blackjack).

The rules of baccarat are well understood, but the interested reader isdirected to www.wizardofodds.com/baccarat for a more detailedexplanation. Table 300 comprises a smart table configured to facilitatea baccarat game and includes a dealer area within which is located adealer display 322 and an RFID-enabled chip tray 320. The dealer displaymay be utilized to output data or prompts to a dealer during the courseof game play (e.g., a commission amount to be collected from one or moreplayers, a payout to be provided to one or more players, an amount inlost wagers to be collected from one or more players, an alert regardingone or more missing chips which is to be rectified by the dealer, etc.).

The table 300 further includes seven (7) player positions 310 a-310 g,each player position including a Banker bet spot and a Player bet spot.Of course, any number of player positions may be utilized. Further, insome embodiments the table may include additional bet spots such asshared or common bet spots.

The table 300 further includes a display 340 which a dealer or othergaming establishment personnel may utilize to access informationregarding game events, transactions, chip tray variances or other datarelated to the table 300. For example, a software application havinguser interfaces and information such as that illustrated in FIG. 5A, 5Band/or 6 may be accessible via the display 340.

The table 300 further includes another display 350 which faces theplayers and may show data to players such as recent historical outcomes(sometimes referred to as a “trend board”). Players sometimes use suchhistorical outcomes in an effort to predict trends within a series ofgame instances. The table 300 further includes an electronic card shoe360 via which cards for the game are shuffled and dealt. In accordancewith some embodiments, the electronic card shoe 360 may communicate witha processor (e.g., a processor of the table 300) to communicate dataregarding cards dealt and/or remaining in the shoe.

The table 300 may include additional components (at least some of whichmay not be easily visible to a player or other observer) such as one ormore processors, a memory storing a general program and one or morespecialized software applications which, in combination with dataobtained from the RFID antennas located on the table, may facilitatemany of the functions described herein (e.g., tracking wagering activityand game outcomes, tracking expected and actual inventory of a dealer'schip tray, calculating payouts due to players and losses incurred byplayers to aid dealers in providing accurate payouts and collectingaccurate losses and commissions, calculating dynamic odds, dynamicallydetermining information about possible re-characterization bets, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated therein is a block diagram of atable system 400 consistent with some embodiments described herein. Thetable system 400 may comprise, for example, a table system 120 ofFIG. 1. The table system 400 may be implemented as a system controller,a dedicated hardware circuit, an appropriately programmed computer whichis a component or peripheral device of a table for facilitating a cardgame, or any other equivalent electronic, mechanical orelectro-mechanical device.

The table system 400 comprises a processor 484, such as one or moreINTEL® PENTIUM® processors. The processor 484 may be in communicationwith a memory 490 and a communications port 480 (e.g., for communicatingwith one or more other devices). The memory 490 may comprise anappropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductormemory, and may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM),Read-Only Memory (ROM), a compact disc, tape drive, and/or a hard disk.The memory 490 may comprise or include any type of computer-readablemedium. The processor 484 and the memory 490 may each be, for example:(i) located entirely within a single computer or other device; or (ii)connected to each other by a remote communication medium, such as aserial port cable, telephone line or radio frequency transceiver. Insome embodiments, the table system 400 may comprise one or more devicesthat are connected to a remote server computer for maintainingdatabases.

The memory 490 may store a program 490A for controlling the processor484. The processor 484 may perform instructions of the program 490A, andthereby operate in accordance with at least one embodiment describedherein. The program 490A may be stored in a compressed, uncompiledand/or encrypted format. The program 490A may include program elementsthat may be necessary or desirable, such as an operating system, adatabase management system and “device drivers” for allowing theprocessor 484 to interface with computer peripheral devices (e.g., anRFID-enabled chip tray, an electronic shoe, a camera, any of which mayprovide data to the processor 484). Appropriate program elements areknown to those skilled in the art, and need not be described in detailherein.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor 305 (or anyother processor of a device described herein) for execution. Such amedium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatilemedia, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile mediainclude, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as memory 490.Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), whichtypically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media includecoaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires thatcomprise a system bus coupled to the processor 484. Transmission mediacan also take the form of acoustic, electromagnetic, or light waves,such as those generated during radio frequency (RF), microwave, andinfrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readablemedia include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any otheroptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium withpatterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 484 (or anyother processor of a device described herein) for execution. Forexample, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of aremote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into itsdynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using amodem. A modem local to a table system 400 may be operable to receivethe data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter toconvert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector can receivethe data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on a systembus for processor 484. The system bus may carry the data to a mainmemory, from which processor 484 may retrieve data and executeinstructions. The instructions received by main memory may optionally bestored in memory 490 either before or after execution by processor 484.In addition, instructions may be received via communication port 480 aselectrical, electromagnetic or optical signals representing varioustypes of information. According to some embodiments of the presentinvention, the instructions of the program 490A may be read into a mainmemory from another computer-readable medium, such from a ROM to RAM.Execution of sequences of the instructions in program 490A may causeprocessor 484 to perform at least some of the functions describedherein. In alternate embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used inplace of, or in combination with, software instructions forimplementation of at least one embodiment described herein. Thus,embodiments described herein are not limited to any specific combinationof hardware and software.

The memory 490 may also store at least one database, such as chip statusdatabase 490B. In some embodiments, some or all of the data describedherein as being stored in the database 490B may be partially or whollystored (in addition to or in lieu of being stored in the memory 490 ofthe table system 400) in a memory of one or more other devices, such thetable game server 110 (FIG. 1). In accordance with some embodiments, thechip status database may store chip identification data and/or chipstatus data (e.g., denomination, unique chip identifier, chipsetidentifier, gaming establishment identifier, chip value, playeridentifier associated with chip identifier, validity of chip, etc.). Insome embodiments, the memory 490 may store additional data regardingmovement, location or wagering activity which has occurred on the table.For example, chip movement history (e.g., an indication of whichantennas or table bet positions a particular chip has been acquired at,a time at which it was acquired at a particular antenna, a time at whichit was determined to no longer be at that antenna, etc.) may be stored(e.g. for determining shared bets). In some embodiments, a history ofchip movements may be stored (e.g., in a file-based archive log) onanother device (e.g., in a memory of table game server 110 of FIG. 1).

The processor 305 is also operable to communicate with one or moredisplay devices: (i) a dealer display 458 (e.g., one or more displayssuch as display 340 and/or display 322 of FIG. 3) and a second display470. The second display 470 may comprise, for example, a display fordisplaying historical outcomes or other game information to a player(e.g., a trend board, such as described with respect to display 350 ofFIG. 3). The dealer display 458 may output information such as (i)prompts for how much should be collected from players in commission orlosing wagers (e.g., for each player position involved in the hand);(ii) prompts for how much should be paid out to players for winningwagers (e.g., for each player position involved in the hand); (iii) trayvariance or out-of-balance alerts, informing the dealer of missing chipsfrom the RFID-enabled chip tray; and/or (iv) other information regardinga status of the game, including information regarding a status of one ormore wagers or RFID-enabled chips being used on the table. In someembodiments, one or both of the displays 458 and 470 may include or haveassociated therewith its own processor, memory and program (and may beoperable to communicated data to and/or from the processor 484). Eitherof the display devices 458 and 470 may comprise, for example, one ormore display screens or areas for outputting information related to gameplay on the gaming system, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor,liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, or light emitting diode (LED)screen. In some embodiments, either of the display devices 458 and 470may comprise a touch screen.

As described herein, in some embodiments an RFID-enabled chip tray maycomprise one or more antennas for reading information from RFID-enabledchips placed in the chip tray. In such embodiments, the processor 484 isfurther operable to communicate with the one or more chip trayantenna(s) 460A. The one or more antenna(s) 460A may be operable to readdata from one or more chips placed within a chip tray (e.g., chipidentifier, chip set identifier, chip denomination, etc.).

The processor 484 is further operable to communicate with a sharedposition antenna 460C, which comprises at least one antenna on a sharedor common betting area for recognizing chips placed (and removed from)the shared or common betting area. In some embodiments, the processormay receive from an antenna 460 data regarding chips placed on a commonbetting area and determine, based on this data and additional datastored in memory (e.g., a player identifier or last player positionassociated with the chip that has now been acquired at the sharedposition antenna 460C) that a particular bet has been made by aparticular player or for a particular player position.

The processor 484 is further operable to communicate with a plurality ofantennas at player positions placed on the table. As described withrespect to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments each player position of atable may have a corresponding Player bet area and a Banker bet area andeach such area may have associated therewith its own antenna fordetermining that a chip has been placed with its area. The table system400 illustrates three player positions 456 (456 a, 456 b and 456 c) aseach having two antennas associated therewith: a player bet antenna 496a and a banker bet antenna 498 b. Each such antenna may be uniquelyidentifiable by, for example, (i) a unique identifier associatedtherewith, and (ii) an identification of a port or other component ofthe table associated with the antenna (e.g., the port into which theantenna is plugged into may have a unique identifier associatedtherewith) and such unique antenna identifier may be transmitted to orrecognized by the processor 484 when chip information regarding a chipacquired by a respective antenna is transmitted to the processor 484,such that the processor 484 may be programmed to determine which playerposition and which betting area within the player position the chip hasbeen placed within. In some embodiments, a single player station 456 mayinclude interrogators associated with two or more players. For example,one interrogator may be intended for a first player playing the game atthe table and another interrogator for a second player (e.g., a “backbettor”) who may be betting along with or in association with the firstplayer, either remotely or from essentially the same location, but whosechips and betting activity is to be separately tracked. In someembodiments, the chip status database 490B may store detailed data withinformation regarding chips identified at a table, such details beingassociated with a chip identifier of each chip for which data is stored(e.g., chip value, chip denomination, chipset identifier or otherindicator of a category or characteristic associated with a chip).Storing such data at the table may allow for faster RFID scanning, sincethe system will not need to obtain a lot of data every time a chip isacquired or recognized by an antenna of a table (e.g., only the chipidentifier may be necessary and additional information may be looked upby the system based on the chip identifier from a local database ormemory).

The processor 484 is further operable to communicate with an electronicshoe 464. The shoe 464 may be an intelligent shoe such as the IS-T1™ andIS-B1™ or the MD1, MD2 sold by SHUFFLE MASTER or other such devices. Theshoe 464 may be able to determine which cards are being dealt to whichplayer station, through RFID technology, image recognition, a printedcode on the card (such as a barcode), or the like. The embodimentsdescribed herein are not dependent on any particular technique used torecognize cards dealt in a card game (or cards remaining as available tobe dealt). Further information about intelligent shoes may be found inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,769 and 7,029,009, both of which are incorporatedby reference in their entireties and U.S. Patent ApplicationPublications 2005/0026681; 2001/7862227; 2005/0051955; 2005/0113166;2005/0219200; 2004/0207156; and 2005/0062226 all of which areincorporated by reference in their entireties. In place of anintelligent shoe, cameras, such as may be used with pattern recognitionsoftware to detect what cards have been dealt to what player stationsand what chips have been wagered at particular player stations. Onemethod for reading data from playing cards at table games is taught byGerman Patent Application No. P44 39 502.7. Other methods are taught byU.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0052167 both of which areincorporated by reference in their entirety.

The processor 484 is further operable to communicate with a dealerstation antenna 460B, which comprises one or more antennas placed in adealer area of the corresponding table. The dealer station antenna 460Bmay be operable to detect RFID-enabled chips which have been placedwithin its acquisition area, such as chips the dealer places in the areafor recognizing by the system prior to placing them into the dealer trayor paying them to a player.

The processor 484 may, in some embodiments, be operable to receive thedata read from the chips by the RFID antenna 460A, derive or determinefirst information therefrom (e.g., total value of chips within the chiptray 460A), compare the first information to second information (e.g.,an expected total value of chips which is supposed to be within the chiptray 460A based on one or more transactions or events) and output analert or message if the first information does not match the secondinformation or if some other condition for outputting the alert ormessage based on a consideration of the first information and the secondinformation is satisfied. The alert or message may be output, forexample, via dealer monitor 458. For example, the processor 484 mayreceive data from at least one of (i) at least one of the antennas 496 aand 498 b located within a player station 456 a, 456 b or 456 c (e.g.,an indication of chips placed as wagers), (ii) a shared position antenna460C, (iii) dealer station antenna 460B, (iv) an electronic shoe 464(e.g., cards dealt for the game). Based on such received data, theprocessor 484 (e.g., in accordance with the program 490A) may determinea value of chips expected to be in the RFID-enabled chip tray. Theprocessor may do so, for example, by calculating lost wagers andcommission amounts, if any, that should have been collected by thedealer and the payments that should have been paid by the dealer forwinning hands at the end of a hand based on wagers made and cards dealt.The processor may then be programmed to compare this value of chipsexpected to be in the tray to the value of chips actually in the tray(e.g., based on data received form chip tray antenna 460A). In someembodiments, an RFID-enabled chip tray of a table system may comprise anadditional processor, which may be operable to communicate data to/fromprocessor 484 and/or a processor of another device (e.g., a serverdevice operable to track and manage inventory or data (and providealerts or messages based thereon) of more than chip tray). In accordancewith some embodiments, the expected value of a chip tray balance may becalculated as:

(Opening balance)+(table fill transactions)−(table credittransactions)−(player buy-in transactions)+/−(table win/loss)=Expectedbalance

On a traditional table which does not include the functionalitiesdescribed herein, a table win/loss may only be estimated and not allbuy-in transactions may be recorded. The opening balance, fills andcredits may be documented transactions, but may be based on manual chipcounts and thus prone to miscounts. In a conventional table gameenvironment, the expected tray balance equation is manually trackedthroughout the day and, if a variance is detected, it is common practicefor an input to be adjusted. For example, table staff identifies thatthe table is $1,000 short. A player rating may be adjusted to reflect anadditional $1,000 in player win, or an additional buy in transaction for$1,000 may be recorded; both options mask the missing $1,000 and thismay happen many times a day on a single table. The reason for thevariance may be an incorrect payer rating or a missed buy-in but mayalso be due to dealer error, player theft or other fraudulent activity.To protect against large losses due to missing chips, operators requirethat large denomination chips be separately tracked and accounted for.This procedure does not protect against the loss of many smallerdenomination chips that can be easily masked with rating and buy-inadjustments. It can take hours or days to identify and verify that chipsare missing. If a variance is not corrected during the day, it may befound on the following gaming day when the table's closing balance iscompared to its opening balance and the table's win/loss for the day. Ifa variance is found, additional research may be done to audit the tableas well as pull surveillance video and manually review the entire tableoperation in an attempt to find a dealer error, a fraudulent transactionor theft. Fraud investigations are time consuming and labor intensiveand can span several days. It takes many hours of tape review andinvestigation to find out why a chip tray was out of balance if it canbe determined at all.

An automated RFID-enabled table such as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3and/or FIG. 4 may render a dealer's tasks and record keeping associatedwith game play at the table much more efficient and less prone to erroror fraud and allow for tray variances to be identified (and staff to beappropriately alerted) close to the time at which the cause of thevariance occurred (e.g., right after a hand in which a commission wasn'tcorrectly collected or a player was overpaid). This allows a wageringestablishment to more accurately identify the cause of the variance andthus provides opportunities to more efficiently rectify such variancesin a timely fashion. For example, as described herein and according tosome embodiments, RFID sensors such as antennas or interrogators may bedeployed in a gaming table for the purposes of (i) determining a wageramount associated with a player position; (ii) determine a wager typeassociated with the wager amount and/or player position; and (iii)transmit an indication of the wager amount and wager type to a tablecomputer for output at a dealer output device. In accordance with someembodiments, the table computer may operate to receive (or otherwisedetermine) a game result and, based on: the wager type; wager amount;and game result, output a payout instruction via the dealer outputdevice. According to some embodiments, chips placed on the gaming tablemay be periodically (e.g. once every 0.5 seconds) interrogated by theRFID sensors in order to determine an initial wager amount and todetermine any fluctuation in the initial wager amount during a period oftime during which such fluctuations are not otherwise permitted (e.g.during the course of a hand of baccarat). If such a fluctuation isdetermined (e.g. a player surreptitiously adds to his wager after cardshave been dealt), the RFID sensors may detect this and output acorresponding message via the dealer output device. Alternatively, or inaddition a reporting signal may be transmitted to one or morecentralized casino server systems to form a basis for casino personnelaction.

In some embodiments, the RFID sensors may be employed in order to ensurethat the dealer is indeed (a) awarding payouts to players (associatedwith a given player position and/or RFID sensor) that are accurate; (b)taking down or collecting any losing bets in their entirety; and/or (c)awarding payouts and/or collecting losing wagers in accordance with adesired and orderly process, protocol or order. In some embodiments, theintegration of a card reading shoe and the capture of bet data via RFIDsensors such as interrogators or antennas may allow for the detection ofoverpays, underpays, other errors and cheating as the system tracks andrecords game outcomes and how each hand was bet. Anomalies detectedbased on such data may be communicated (or otherwise indicated) todealers (e.g. with displays embedded in the table) and/or tosupervisors, surveillance and management through a computer or otherdevice including e.g. desktop computers, laptops, tablets andsmartphone.

In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table system whichincludes an RFID-enabled chip tray allows for inventory updates whichare fast and accurate: (i) automated and on-demand scans are complete inseconds; (ii) user prompts ensure that scans are completed correctly andaccurately; and (iii) time spent on manual chip counts is eliminated orsignificantly minimized. Additionally, table inventory information maybe displayed and updated after every chip tray transaction: (i)inventory may be displayed and filtered by chip set, denomination andtray location; and (ii) table win/loss, expected float value, actualfloat value and variance from the expected total are updated in realtime throughout the day. Tray errors and chip theft may be detected assoon as they occur: (i) the tray inventory is audited for accuracy afterevery update allowing immediate and actionable knowledge of trayvariances instead of at the end of a shoe, shift or day; and (ii) timeconsuming and labor intensive investigations and tape reviews may beavoided. In some embodiments, detailed alerts are generated any time avariance is detected:

(i) alerts may be generated any time a table system or table game serverdetects that a chip has left the tray outside of a correct pay, change,buy-in or credit transaction; (ii) inventory checks can becontext-specific so an operator known when and usually how a varianceoccurred because scans are logged by time and type per game, per creditor fill transaction or as an on-demand inventory scan; and (iii) alertsinclude details such as “missing losing chip from Player Position 6” andthe exact amount missing from the tray.

Turning now to FIG. 5A, illustrated therein is a user interface 500A,which may comprise a user interface output to personnel (e.g., a dealer,supervisor or administrator of a wagering establishment) via a displaysuch as display 340 (FIG. 3) or a display remote from a table system(e.g., a display of a computing device in a backroom or office of awagering establishment, a supervisor station, a display of a tablegaming server 110, etc.). The user interface 500A, which may compriseone of several tabs or screens available via a software applicationwhich tracks chip tray inventory or other game information for at leastone table system such as table system 120 (FIG. 1) or table system 400(table 4). The user interface 500A may be accessed, for example, bycasino personnel periodically, continuously or in response to receivingan alert that a tray variance has been identified. In some embodiments,such software may be operable to track chip tray inventories or othergame information for a plurality of table systems. For purposes of thepresent example, it may be assumed that the user interface 500A isoutputting information regarding a single table system chip inventory.The user interface 500A includes various areas via which a user mayaccess information. Area 510, for example, allows a user to selectdifferent display filter options. Area 512 outputs, in accordance withsome embodiments, chip inventory information by chip set identifier anddenomination. Area 514 comprises a user message area via which one ormore messages (e.g., regarding a tray variance or lack thereof) may beoutput to the user.

Area 516 comprises an area which includes various example chip traystatus indicators for outputting one or more statuses of thecorresponding chip tray. For example: (i) the first icon (from left toright), if highlighted, may indicate that the lid of the chip tray iscurrently raised; (ii) the second icon, if highlighted, may indicatethat an invalid chip has been detected in the chip tray; (iii) the thirdicon, if highlighted, may indicate that the chip inventory is out ofbalance (i.e., the actual chip inventory as detected in the tray doesnot match the expected chip tray inventory); (iv) the fourth icon, ifhighlighted, may indicate that a credit transaction is in progress atthe chip tray; (v) the fifth icon, if highlighted, may indicate that afill transaction is in progress at the chip tray; (vi) the sixth iconmay indicate a lock status of the chip tray (whether the tray iscurrently locked or unlocked); and (vii) the seventh icon may indicate atime of the last inventory scan of the chip tray. Of course many otherstatuses and indicators are possible and would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure. Inaccordance with some embodiments, a current status as indicated in area516 may be maintained until the status is determined to have changedand/or is cleared by authorized casino personnel.

Area 518 indicates an actual tray balance, or the actual value of allchips within the chip tray as determined during the last inventory scan(e.g., using the one or more antennas within the chip tray). Area 520indicates the expected value of all chips that are expected to belocated within the chip tray based on previous transactions and astarting balance e.g., as calculated using a formula such as providedabove). Area 522 indicates a tray variance, if any, between the actualvalue shown in area 518 and the expected value shown in area 520. As canbe appreciated from viewing the example data of user interface 500A inarea 522 and the “out of balance” indicator in area 516 not beinghighlighted, the corresponding chip tray does not currently have a trayvariance with respect to its chip inventory.

Area 524 comprises a virtual button or link which, if actuated orselected by a user, allows the user to view information regarding theopening inventory of the chip tray. Area 526 comprises a virtual buttonor link which, if actuated or selected by a user, allows the user torequest an on-demand inventory scan of the corresponding chip tray.

Turning now to FIG. 5B, illustrated therein is a user interface 500Bwhich includes the same areas, options and icons as user interface 500Abut is displaying data for a tray for which an out of balance status ortray variance has been detected. The out of balance status is indicatedby the highlighted icon 530. The magnitude of the tray variance isindicated in area 522, which shows the difference between the actualvalue of chips in the chip tray and the expected value of chips in thechip tray. Additionally, the message area 514 is outputting anindication of the tray variance determined for the tray. As describedherein, such out of balance status and tray variance may be determinableby wagering establishment personnel via a screen such as user interface500B. In some embodiments, in addition to showing an out of balancestatus via a user interface such as user interface 500B, the system maygenerate and output an alert or message to draw a user's attention tothe out of balance status (e.g., an audible and/or visual alert, such asa notification which may be output to a user via another interface ormechanism, via a text message or otherwise).

In some embodiments it may be desirable to alert wagering establishmentpersonnel to an out of balance status of a chip tray as it is determined(real time alerts). In some embodiments, such alerts may only be outputif the tray variance is greater than a predetermined amount. In someembodiments, a tray variance greater than a predetermined amount mayfurther be accompanied by another event, such as a pause in game play(e.g., a dealer may be prevented from initiating a new hand or dealingnew cards until the tray variance is addressed or over-ridden). In someembodiments, a proactive alert may not be output upon a determination ofan out of balance status of a chip tray. Rather, the out of balancestatus may be determinable by a user once the user accesses theappropriate user interface, such as that illustrated in FIG. 5B. Forexample, in some wagering establishments some casino personnel may betasked with periodically reviewing the current status of a chip tray todetermine whether any tray variances have been detected but the gameplay is not interrupted upon such tray variances being detected andusers are not proactively prompted to view information about such trayvariances.

Turning now to FIG. 6, illustrated therein is another example userinterface 600, which illustrates one embodiment of how table alerts maybe output to a user (e.g., a dealer or other casino personnel). The userinterface 600 may be another screen accessible via a table systemsoftware application which also outputs the user interface of FIGS. 5Aand 5B. In some embodiments, the user alert messages such as those shownin FIG. 6 may be utilized to track and store a history of chip trayalerts or out of balance statuses, such that an analysis may beperformed on how often a chip tray has a tray variance (e.g., this maybe correlated to which dealer was dealing at the table and utilized toinfer additional information). The alert messages illustrated in FIG. 6are in chronological order from most recent to least recent (althoughthey can be re-ordered as desired), to allow wagering establishmentpersonnel to determine a history of tray variances and when they weredetected. As indicated in the most recent alert 605, the correspondingtray is currently out of balance and has a tray variance of −10,800,which has increased by 3,000 since the immediately previous detectedtray variance. In accordance with some embodiments, each alert may beassociated with a particular status (e.g., high, medium, low). A statusof an alert may be based on, for example, (i) a magnitude of thevariance; and/or (ii) a duration of time during which the tray has beenout of balance. In some embodiments, different events may be triggeredin the system based on a status of an alert. For example, a high alertmay trigger a text or e-mail message to be output to designatedpersonnel and/or an interruption in game play on the table at which thechip tray is located while a low or medium level alert may not.

In some embodiments, a message or alert relating to a tray variance orout of balance status of a chip tray may include information regardingthe particular RFID-enabled chips which are missing from the tray (i.e.,are expected to be in the tray but have not been detected as beinglocated in the tray during the latest inventory scan of chips in thetray). For example, a log of alerts or messages indicative of a trayvariance (e.g., such as illustrated in FIG. 6) may indicate, for eachchip determined to be missing from the tray, at least one of (i) aunique identifier of the chip; (ii) a chipset identifier; (iii) acategory, type or characteristic of the chip (e.g., whether it is apromotional chip); (iv) a denomination of the chip; (v) a value of thechip; and (vi) a player and/or player position associated with the chip.For example, a message indicating the out of balance status of the chiptray due to one or more missing chips may include some information aboutthe missing chips such as: “Missing losers on P5(1,000)(1×1,000 CASH).”This message may include various data in shorthand form: (i) that theout of balance status is being attributed to non-collection (ornon-placement in the tray after collection) by the dealer of a losingwager from player P5 (or player position 5, depending on theembodiment); (ii) that the value of the missing chips is 1,000; (iii)that the 1,000 in value is attributable to a single missing chip; and(iv) that the type of chip that is missing is a CASH chip (e.g., a chipthat is redeemable for case, not a promotional or other type of chip).Including such information about the particular chips that are missingmay be determinable by the table system (e.g., the processor 484 workingin accordance with the program 490A of table system 400 of FIG. 4) basedon (i) chip data received from antennas at one or more of the playerstations 456 and/or the shared position antenna 460C (any of theforegoing antennas being operable to read and transmit to a processorchip data of chips placed as wagers within a vicinity); (ii) anelectronic card shoe (e.g., shoe 464 of table system 400); (iii)information regarding events in the game as input by the dealer (e.g.,using a dealer display such as display 322 or 340 of FIG. 3 or dealerdisplay 458 of FIG. 4); (iv) information associated with particularchips in a memory or database (E.g., such as chip status database 490Bof FIG. 4); and (v) chip data received from the antenna(s) within anRFID-enabled chip tray (e.g., antenna(s) 460A of FIG. 4). Having moredetailed information about the particular chips that are missing (e.g.,one or more of the denomination of chip, which player position it shouldhave been collected from, unique chip identifier, chip set identifier,etc.) may help a dealer or other casino personnel identify the chip onthe table and/or rectify the out of balance status of a chip tray.

Thus, as described herein, a table gaming system which includes one ormore table systems equipped with an RFID-enabled chip tray allows fortracking a table's chip tray inventory in real time (e.g., including thecount and total value of chips by casino chip set, denomination, traylocation, table position location), comparing an actual value of chipsin the chip tray to an expected value of chips and generating an alertor other indication when a tray variance is detected. Such real timetracking of chip tray inventory (e.g., upon each transaction at thetable or close to a transaction during the execution of which a trayvariance may have been caused) allows for more accurate and efficientidentification of chip tray inventory errors and allows such errors tobe more likely to be rectified in a timely and satisfactory manner.

In accordance with some embodiments, a table system for facilitating acard game provides for: (i) determining an actual value of RFID-enabledchips located within an RFID-enabled chip tray; (ii) determining anexpected value of RFID-enabled chips that should be located within theRFID-enabled chip tray; and (iii) generating an alert if the actualvalue is not equal to the expected value. In some embodiments, theexpected value may be determined based on at least one of an openinginventory of the chip tray, one or more intervening fill transactions,one or more intervening table credit transactions, one or moreintervening player buy-in transaction, any intervening commissions paidand any intervening losing and winning wagers (intervening may comprisea transaction which has occurred since the opening inventory wasdetermined or since the last actual inventory was determined). In someembodiments, such an alert may include an indication of the lasttransaction(s) which have occurred at the table which may have been acause of the difference between the actual value and the expected value.In one embodiment, the determination that the actual value is not equalto the expected value may cause additional events to be initiated, suchas, for example: (i) interruption in game play at the table (e.g., adealer may be prevented from initiating a new hand or dealing cards froman electronic shoe); (ii) a storage or review of video footage of thetable which was taken immediately prior to the determination of the trayvariance, and (iii) a selection and/or storage of data from one or morememories (e.g., which may be helpful in determining a cause of the trayvariance), such as wagering activity data for wagers which were placed,lost and/or paid during a time immediately preceding the determined trayvariance.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, illustrated therein are flow diagramsrespective computerized processing methods 700, 800 and 900, which areeach consistent with some embodiments described herein. Any or all ofthe methods 700, 800 and 900, in accordance with some embodiments, maycomprise transfer, transmittal, passing, exchanging, and/or providing ofdata between one or more components of a table system (e.g., a tablesystem 400 of FIG. 4) and/or between one or more components of a tablesystem and a table system server (E.g., between a table system 120 andtable game server 110 of FIG. 1). It should be noted that additionaland/or different steps may be added to those depicted and that not allsteps depicted are necessary to any embodiment described herein. Theprocesses 700, 800 and 900 are example processes of how some embodimentsdescribed herein may be implemented, and should not be taken in alimiting fashion. A person of ordinary skill in the art, uponcontemplation of the embodiments described herein, may make variousmodifications to either of the processes 700, 800 and 900 withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the embodiments in the possessionof applicant.

Referring now to FIG. 7 in particular, process 700 begins when an end ofgame play is detected (702). For example, an input from a dealer orother casino personnel (e.g., via display 340 as illustrated in FIG. 3)may comprise a signal to the system that game play for a current gameevent has ended. In other embodiments, the determination of an end ofgame play may be a more automated process, wherein the system determinesthat game play has ended based on data received from one or morecomponents of a table system (e.g., a final card for the hand beingdealt from a card shoe, such as card shoe 360 (FIG. 3) or card shoe 464(FIG. 4)). An end of game play, for purposes of the process 700, maycomprise a status of game play in which the results of the game play(e.g., the results of each participating player's wager) can bedetermined based on wagers placed and game indicia or outcomes (e.g.,all cards in a card game to form each player's, and the dealer's hand ifapplicable, have been dealt).

Based on the wager and game outcome information available to the system,the system calculates the amount of value to be collected and paid bythe dealer for each wager (704). For example, the system may call up thewager data received from each player position antenna to determine thevalue of each wager placed (and what the wagers was for, such as Playeror Banker for a baccarat game), call up the data for outcomes of thegame (e.g., cards dealt for the game, which may be automaticallydetermined from an electronic shoe, optical recognition of cards,recognition of RFID data embedded in cards, or input from a dealer) and,based on the programmed rules of the game, determine which wagers arewinning wagers and which are losing wagers. The system may then be ableto sum how much value the dealer is supposed to collect from eachparticipating player position (whether it be a lost wager or commission)and how much value the dealer is supposed to pay out to eachparticipating player position. In some embodiments, the system may alsohave the unique chip identifier for each chip to be collected from eachparticipating player position.

It is next determined (706) that all monetary transactions correspondingto the wagers have been resolved or should have been resolved (e.g.,dealer has finished collecting all lost wagers and commissions forwinning wagers, paid out winnings for winning wagers, finalized anycredit or buy-in transactions for the game play, etc.), such thataccounting for the current game play should be verified and closed outif possible. In one embodiment, this determination is based on acontinuous assessment of the state of the table system. For example, ofthe status of the current game event (e.g., hand) is that all the cardshave been dealt and the dealer has proceeded with collecting the lostwagers and commissions and providing the payouts, the system may invokelogic or assessment for each movement of a wagering chip at the table(e.g., to/from a player position antenna, to/from the chip tray) todetermine what state the game is in and whether all bets have been takenand paid. If the system determines that the dealer appears to havefinished collecting and paying on all wagers for the game event, itdetermines that it is ready to proceed to a new state: an end of gamechip tray inventory scan.

In 708, the at least one antenna in the chip tray is then directed toperform an inventory scan to identify the current contents of the chiptray (e.g., to determine the total value of chips in the chip trayand/or detect identifiers of each individual chip detected in the chiptray or other characteristics of each chip, such as denomination or chipset identifier). In one embodiment, a processor of a table system maydirect the chip tray antenna(s) directly while in other embodiments thechip tray may have its own processor to communicate with the chip trayantenna(s) and relay instructions from the table system processor.

The results of this inventory scan are then compared (in 710) to whatthe system expected to find in the chip tray and the system determineswhether there is any variance or out of balance status for the chiptray. For example, the system may call up the specific chips or chipvalue that was in the chip tray during the inventory scan thatimmediately preceded the current inventory scan, as well as the datadefining the results of the current game play, to determine what thetotal value of the chips in the chip tray should be based on payoutsthat should have been made by the dealer and lost wagers and commissionsthat should have been collected by the dealer for the current game event(vis-à-vis the inventory of the chip tray prior to these payouts andcollections being made). It may then compare the expected inventory datato the actual inventory data determined via the inventory scan of 708.If the two data (expected inventory and actual inventory) match, theprocess may proceed to close out the accounting for the current gameevent and thus allow the next game event to be initiated (718). If thereis a variance such that the two data do not match, the system mayproceed to try and identify the source(s) of the variance and alert thedealer or other casino personnel such that the variance may be correctedin a timely and efficient manner (e.g., prior to players participatingin the current game event leaving the table).

Determining that there is a variance in the chip tray balance (oranother step in the process 700 or a similar process) may furtherinclude, in accordance with some embodiments, a value of the variance(e.g., whether the actual chip tray inventory balance is more than orless than the expected chip tray inventory balance and by how much). Inother embodiments, determining that there is a variance (or another stepin the process 700 or a similar process) may further compriseidentifying particular chip(s) that are missing from the chip tray (orthat are unexpectedly detected in the chip tray). In some embodiments,the latter may comprise determining additional detail such as a count,by denomination, chip set identifier or other characteristic, of themissing (or extra) chips. In some embodiments, unique identifiers forspecific chips that are missing from (or unexpectedly detected in) thechip tray may also be identified during an analysis of the variance.

If a variance is identified in 710, chip data collected during game playand chip data of the most recent chip tray inventory scan may be calledup by the system to help identify the source(s) of the variance, such asat least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled chip that isidentified as a source of the variance (e.g., a player position fromwhich a missing chip or value of chips should have been collected).Different procedures for identifying the variance may be utilizeddepending on whether the actual inventory is more than the expectedinventory or less than the expected inventory. For example, if it isdetermined that the actual inventory is less than the expected inventory(i.e., at least one RFID-enabled chip is missing from the chip tray ornot being read in the inventory scan), the system may, in accordancewith some embodiments, proceed to try to identify the source(s) of thevariance by first comparing the missing value to value of chips thatshould have been collected from each participating player position forthe current game event. For example, a dealer may have omitted tocollect the correct amount as a lost wager or as a commission.

In one embodiment, the system may call up the data from each playerposition antenna on which a wager had been detected (or, in someembodiments, for each player position antenna on which a wager had beenlost and should have been collected or for each player position antennafrom which a commission should have been collected) for the current gameplay to identify at least one of (i) the value of the chip(s) wagered oneach such antenna; (ii) a denomination of each chip wagered on each suchantenna; and (iii) a unique identifier of each chip wagered on each suchantenna. The system may then compare the value determined to be missingfrom the chip tray to the value that should have been collected as alost wager from each respective player position to determine whetherthere is a match. The system may perform a similar process to comparevalues of commissions that should have been collected from each suchantenna to determine whether any of respective commission value matchesthe missing value. The system may also poll one or more player positionantennas to determine whether the antenna still detects a chip withinits range and may compare the value of any such detected chip (or othercharacteristic, such as denomination or unique identifier) to the valuemissing from the chip tray. In embodiments in which the uniqueidentifiers of chips are received and stored for each player positionantenna during a game event, the system may also call up the unique chipidentifier of each chip that should have been collected by the dealerand compare that to the data from the inventory scan performed in step708 to verify whether each such chip is now located within the chiptray.

Using any of the above or similar techniques, the system may identify atleast one characteristic associated with a chip that may be the sourceof the variance identified in 710 (e.g., a unique identifier, adenomination, a player position from which the missing value may nothave been collected). For example, using at least one of the above orsimilar techniques the system may determine that there is a −$10variance in the balance of the chip tray (i.e., the chip tray inventoryscan revealed that the chip tray has $10 less in value than it isexpected to have) and that there was a $10 wager that should have beencollected from player position 3 for the current game play. The systemmay even verify that this was the only $10 wager placed for the currentgame play and/or that $10 value in chips is still located at playerposition 3. In some embodiments, the system may determine a uniqueidentifier of a chip that had been wagered and lost for the current gameplay but that is not located within the chip tray after the dealer hasfinished collecting all lost wagers for the current game play.

It should be understood that some types of variances may not have aplayer position that corresponds thereto. For example, if a dealerillegally or impermissibly removes a chip from a chip tray, this maycause a variance in the chip tray that does not correspond to anyparticular player position. It should further be understood that in somecases the system may not be able to identify a player position as asource of a variance for other reasons (e.g., a chip is actually in thechip tray but not responding due to a weak signal or damage and is thusnot detected by the antenna of the chip tray and thus the chip tray scanappears to show a variance where there is none). Thus, in some scenariosand/or embodiments the system may not be able to (or may not need to)correlate a player position to a variance in the balance of the chiptray. However, as described herein, the system may often be able toidentify another characteristic of a chip or value corresponding to avariance. For example, the system may be able to identify at least oneof a unique identifier, denomination and/or chip set identifier of achip corresponding to a variance. For example, if a dealer impermissiblyremoves a chip from the chip tray but that chip had previously beendetected as located in the chip tray (e.g., in a previous inventoryscan, which detected the unique identifier, denomination and/or chip setidentifier of the chip), the system may be able to call up from memorythe characteristic of the chip (e.g., its unique identifier and/ordenomination) and utilize this information to try and track down thelocation of the chip and correct the variance. For example, the uniqueidentifier of the missing chip may be added to a “suspect” chipdatabase, such that if this chip is subsequently detected as in useelsewhere (e.g., a person attempts to cash it out or wager it), casinopersonnel may be alerted to investigate why a chip missing from aparticular chip tray is being used somewhere in the gamingestablishment.

Presuming, for purposes of the present example embodiment, that thesystem is able to identify at least one characteristic of a chip ormissing value comprising a variance in the chip tray balance determinedin 710, an alert or notification may be output to casino personnel(e.g., a dealer or other casino personnel). The alert or notificationmay inform the casino personnel of at least one of (i) that a variancewas determined in the balance of the chip tray; (ii) the value of thevariance; (iii) at least one characteristic associated with a particularchip that has been identified as a possible source of the variance(e.g., a player position from which the chip should have been collected,a denomination of the chip, a unique identifier of the chip and/or achip set identifier of the chip); and (iv) a count by denomination ofthe chip(s) that are the source of the variance. In embodiments in whichthe alert is output to a dealer, it may be output via a dealer displayof the table. In embodiments in which the alert is output to othercasino personnel (e.g., a shift supervisor or other casino employeeother than a dealer), the alert may be output via another display ofanother device accessible to such personnel.

In accordance with some embodiments, the alert or notification mayinclude an instruction for corrective action to be taken in order torectify the variance. For example, a dealer may be instructed to collectthe appropriate chip(s) or value from a particular player position. Insome embodiments, the dealer may be allowed to override the alert ornotification and thus “rectify” the variance by indicating to the systemthat it should log the variance but that no further corrective actionwill be taken by the dealer. For example, the dealer may be trained tonot take corrective action under certain circumstances (e.g., when thetable is very busy and the variance value is low) or may recognize thatalthough the system has determined a variance this is due to a faultychip or other error in the data (e.g., the dealer may know that he didin fact collect the chip(s) that the system thinks are missing from thechip tray).

In accordance with some embodiments, the system may be programmed withdifferent rules for when (or if) an alert or notification based on anidentified variance is to be output and/or to whom it is to be output.For example, in some cases an alert or notification of a variance maynot be output to a dealer or other casino personnel (or may be outputonly to other casino personnel but not to the dealer) unless a value ofthe variance exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold (e.g., if thevalue of the variance is less than $100 USD, the system may log it andit may be included in reports generated by the system, but an alert to adealer may not be output in real time because a game provider maydetermine that a variance of this magnitude is insufficient to slow downthe initiation of a subsequent game event). In another example, avariance of less than a predetermined amount may cause a notification tobe output to a shift supervisor but not to a dealer, and no correctiveaction may be required by the system. In yet another example, if a valueof a variance is more than a first predetermined threshold amount (e.g.,$100 USD) but less than a second predetermined threshold amount (e.g.,$1000 USD), an alert or indication may be output to both a dealer andother casino personnel but no corrective action may be required, howeverif the value of the variance is at least equal to the secondpredetermined threshold then corrective action may be required prior toanother game event being allowed. In some embodiments, differentpriorities or different levels may be assigned to different variances(e.g., based on a value of a variance) and only variances of certainlevels may be output as alerts or notifications provided in real time todealers or other casino personnel. FIG. 6 illustrates how a level of analert may be output in a report of alerts to casino personnel. It shouldbe understood that the particular threshold amounts in the aboveexamples are not intended to be limiting, any desirable thresholdamounts may be utilized.

In 716 it is determined whether the variance has been rectified. Thismay comprise a re-scanning of the chip tray to determine whether theactual inventory does now match the expected inventory (e.g. todetermine whether any missing chips have not been added to the chiptray). In some embodiments this may comprise determining that anoverride or other input has been received from a dealer or otherauthorized casino personnel. In the latter embodiment, the system may beprogrammed to log the variance in an accounting of the game event andclose out the current game event activity. In some embodiments, amanually requested scan of the chip tray inventory may be initiated bycasino personnel once the casino personnel believes the variance hasbeen rectified (e.g., a dealer may provide an appropriate input once hecollects the missing chip(s), as instructed). If it is determined in 716that the variance has not been rectified, then the process 700 may, insome embodiments, return to 714 and the alert or notification may againbe output. In some embodiments, a second alert or notification may beoutput to a different casino personnel than the first alert ornotification (e.g., a shift supervisor may be alerted if only the dealerhad previously been alerted). In some embodiments, if the value of thevariance does not exceed a predetermined threshold amount, the processmay proceed to step 718 if, after a predetermined amount of time haspassed since the first alert was output in step 714 even if the variancehas not yet been rectified (e.g., for sufficiently small variances, acasino or other game provider may not want to further slow down a gameeven if the variance has not been corrected). Once it is determined thatthe variance has been rectified (or, in some embodiments, that it is notnecessary to rectify the variance prior to proceeding to a new gamestate), the process may proceed to 718.

In 718 the accounting for the current game may be finalized or closedout. Thus, a final status of inventory in the chip tray may be logged,any outstanding variances may be logged and the status of the system maybe allowed to proceed to a state in which data for a new game event maybegin to be collected and tracked.

Turning now to FIG. 8, illustrated therein is a process 800 which may,in accordance with some embodiments, be utilized for Fill transactions(in which RFID-enabled chips are added to a chip tray so that the dealerhas sufficient chips for facilitating games, buy-ins, etc.). In someembodiments, a Fill transaction may be performed in response to a dealeror other casino personnel (e.g., a supervisor) selecting this type oftransaction from a menu of available options provided via a GUI on adealer or other display (e.g., via an interface output on display 322 ordisplay 340 (FIG. 3)).

Once a request for a fill transaction is received (802), a baseline scanof chip tray inventory may be performed (804), such as by chip trayantenna 460A (FIG. 4). For example, the antenna(s) of a chip tray may bedirected to perform a scan of RFID chips within the tray to identify thetotal value of chips in the chip tray prior to the chip transaction. Insome embodiments, the inventory scan may also include obtaining moredetailed data on the individual chips located within the chip tray(e.g., unique identifier of each chip and/or a count, by denomination,of the chips in the chip tray). Once the baseline scan of the chip trayinventory is completed, the process proceeds to 806, wherein the dealeror other casino personnel may be prompted (e.g., via dealer display 458(FIG. 4)) to output to place all the RFID-enabled chips that comprisethe Fill transaction onto the dealer area of the table surface such thatthey may be interrogated by the dealer station antenna 460B (FIG. 4).

The RFID-enabled chips placed within range of the dealer station antennaare then scanned or read in order to determine the total value of thechips (808). In some embodiments, additional detailed data may also beread from each of the chips (e.g., unique chip identifier, chipdenomination, chip set identifier, etc.). In accordance with someembodiments, the dealer may be prompted (e.g., via dealer display 458(FIG. 4)) to input or verify the total value of chips comprising theFill transaction (810). In some embodiments, the value input or verifiedby the player may be compared to the value determined based on the scanof the chips within range of the dealer station antenna. If the twovalues do not match, an alert may be output to the dealer and/or othercasino personnel and corrective action may be required (e.g., the chipson the dealer station antenna may be rescanned, the dealer may be askedto again verify the expected value of the chips, a supervisor may bealerted). In some embodiments, a second casino employee besides a dealermay be involved in a Fill transaction and this second employee may beprompted to input information (e.g., a value of chips comprising theFill transaction, an authorization code, etc.) during the Filltransaction.

The dealer is then prompted (e.g., via dealer display 458 (FIG. 4)) toplace the chips comprising the Fill transaction into the chip tray(812). A second scan of the chip tray inventory is then performed (e.g.,by the chip tray antenna 460A) at 814. The results of the second scanare compare to the results of the baseline scan performed at 804. Forexample, the total value of chips in the chip tray identified in thescan at 804 may be compare to the total value of chips in the chip trayidentified in the second scan at 814 may be compared. The differenceshould be equal to the value of chips detected by the dealer stationantenna at 808 and/or received from the dealer at 810.

If it is determined, at 816, that the value of chips that have beenadded to the chip tray matches the value of the chips detected at thedealer station antenna at 808, the Fill transaction is allowed to becompleted (820). If, however, it is determined that the value of thechips added to the chip tray does not equal the value of the chipsdetected at the dealer station antenna at 808, the process 800 mayproceed to 818, wherein an error message or alert is output to casinopersonnel (e.g., the dealer and/or other casino personnel such as asupervisor). In accordance with some embodiments, an authorized response(e.g., from a supervisor) may be required in the latter scenario beforethe Fill transaction is allowed to be completed. The process 800 isdirected at minimizing or preventing a dealer or other person fromattempting to impermissibly remove a chip during a Fill transaction bytaking advantage of the RFID capabilities of the table systems describedherein.

Turning now to FIG. 9, illustrated therein is a process 900 which may,in accordance with some embodiments, be utilized to recognize and updatethe status of faulty chips. In accordance with some embodiments, a tablesystem which includes an RFID-enabled chip tray and/or otherinterrogators or antennas for reading information from RFID-enabledchips placed on the table (e.g., such as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4), maybe operable to identify an RFID-enabled chip that is deficient ordamaged in some manner (e.g., because the chip emits a weak signal, doesnot consistently respond to an interrogator excitation signal and/ordoes not respond with all expected data). For example, if a chip isdetermined to not be operating according to specification orexpectation, it may be beneficial to remove the chip from circulation.For example, the chip may not respond to an interrogation command froman interrogator (e.g., a MARS reader) with the expected data accordingto the specification of its RFID standard, which can indicate that anelectronic component of the chip is damaged. In some embodiments, such asystem may still be operable to transmit its unique identifier or somesubset of data. In accordance with some embodiments, if the systemdetermines that a chip is damaged, deficient or not performing tospecification, it may identify the chip (and, in some embodiments, acurrent location of the chip on the table or in the chip tray) andoutput instructions (e.g., via a dealer display or other appropriateuser interface) to a dealer or other casino personnel to remove and/orreplace the chip.

The example process 900 is performed in the context of an inventory scanof a chip tray (e.g., as may be performed by a chip tray antenna 460A atthe end of a game, in response to a manual scan instruction,periodically, during an idle state or otherwise). Once the inventoryscan is performed in 902, it may be determined that there is at leastone RFID-enabled chip newly identified in the chip tray that was notexpected to be there (e.g., it is not a chip that was previouslydetermined as being present in the chip tray during a previous inventoryscan or by a player position antenna as having been wagered and lostduring a previous game event). Data regarding the chip may be comparedto game play data for the most recent game event (906). For example, thesystem may be programmed to compare the unique chip identifier of thechip against chip identifiers of chips that were or should have beencollected during previous game play as lost wagers or commissions. Thesystem may also compare the chip's data against other transaction data(e.g., against chip identifiers of chips that were added to the chiptray during a Fill or other transaction).

If the system is unable to find a source of the unexpectedly detectedchip based on a comparison to data from a previous game event or othertransactions, the system may infer that the chip is faulty in somemanner and was not properly read during previous game play or anothertransaction. In accordance with some embodiments, the system may thusadd the chip to a “Faulty Chip” database or change a status of the chipto indicate that it is faulty (908).

In 910 the dealer (or other casino personnel in some embodiments) may beprompted to remove the chip from circulation if it is determined to befaulty. The information provided to the dealer or other casino personnelmay include a location (specific or general) of the chip as well asother information that may allow the chip to be accurately identified.For example, a denomination of the chip as well as exact location in thechip tray or on a player position may be determined and output (thelatter may, in some embodiments, be determined based ondivide-and-conquer algorithm, in some embodiments in conjunction withwhatever minimal data was able to be read from the chip).

In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-chip may be determined tobe deficient, damaged or not operating according to specification ifthere are repeated indications determined by the system that the chip isnot transmitting all data that it is expected to transmit or it isrepeatedly determined to be emitting a weak signal. For example, if thesame chip (e.g., uniquely identified based on a chip ID or otherwise) isdetermined to not respond strongly or to not respond with all expecteddata then the chip may be flagged (e.g., in a chip status database) asfaulty and slated for removal from circulation. In some embodiments therepeated attempted reads of the data of the chip (e.g., the chip'sresponses to interrogation commands from an interrogator such as anantenna on one or more tables) may occur over a course of different gameevents. For example, the system may be operable to track, for a givenRFID-enabled chip, a count of how many times it has responded to aninterrogation signal with insufficient data or a weak signal and flag itfor removal from circulation once this count exceeds a predeterminedthreshold, and this tracking may occur over a plurality of differentgames in which the chip is used and may occur at different tables or inassociation with different players. In other embodiments, if anRFID-enabled chip responds with a weak signal or data less than what isexpected (e.g., does not allow all data for all expected data fields tobe read), the system may then continue to attempt to read the data fromthe chip again and, if it is unable to read all the data after apredetermined number of attempts, it may flag the chip for removal fromcirculation. and perhaps even on different tables while in otherembodiments these may be consecutive repeated attempted reads. In eithertype of scenario, in some embodiments a status of a chip may be changed(e.g., to “faulty,” “damaged” or “weak”) in a chip status database basedon insufficient data reads being obtained from the chip after a numberof repeated attempts. Thus, in such embodiments, step 908 may compriseupdating a status of the chip or updating a count of how many times thechip has been determined as potentially faulty and step 910 may only beperformed if the count reaches a predetermined threshold.

In accordance with some embodiments, other statuses of a chip and/or astatus or progress of game events may be inferred or determined based onlocation of a chip or movement of a chip from one location to another.As described herein, in some embodiments a table system is operable totrack the movement of RFID-enabled chips between player positions and adealer chip tray. In one embodiment, the movement of the chips in and/orout of the chip tray may be utilized to determine at least one of (i)game winners and losers' (ii) player turnover (total amount wagered) and(iii) win/loss. For example, in one embodiment if particular chips aredetected on a player position as havin been wagered, these are logged as“chips wagered” (e.g., the status of these chips is set to “wagered” ina chip status database) if those same chips are next detected in thechip tray. In some embodiments, these chips may also be considered“lost” in a wager. In another example, if chips last sighted in anRFID-enabled chip tray are next detected by an antenna of a playerposition along with wagered chips, that player position may bedetermiend by the table system to be a winner. In this way win/loss maybe determined and/or verified in some embodiments. As another example ofhow movement of chips may be utilzied to update a status or progress ofa game event an identifier of a player or player position that iscurrently associated with a particular chip or chip stack may be clearedfrom a memory or database (or a status of the chip(s) may otherwise beupdated to reflect that the chip(s) should no longer be associated withthat player or player position identifier) when that chip or chip stackis detected in the chip tray by a chip tray antenna. This may be done,for example, on the presumption that the player who was previouslyassociated with the chip or chip stack lost the chip(s) in a wager andshould thus no longer be associated with the chip(s) as a current owner.The tracking of movement of chip(s) in and out of a chip tray may thusallow for various determinations that may be useful in calculating orinferring information such as exact table win/loss or more accuratetheoretical win/loss in real time.

A process similar to the process of FIG. 9 may be utilized toautomatically enroll or add newly recognized chips to a database ofchips that are being tracked or that are considered authorized forcirculation or use in a given game or within a given location. Forexample, if the system detects an RFID-enabled chip (e.g., on a playerposition or in a chip tray) that is not included in a database of chipsthat are being tracked or are considered authorized for circulation oruse, the system may include logic that compares the data read from agiven RFID-enable gaming chip (e.g., the gaming company identifier) tochip data that is included in the database (e.g., with a list of valididentifiers in a memory or database if valid gaming companyidentifiers). If the data read from the chip (e.g., gaming companyidentifier) matches data in the database but other data or parameters ofthe chip (e.g., chip set identifier and casino site identifier) are notin the database, then the system may automatically add this informationto the database as well. For example, the system may generate a newrecord in a chip status or other database for the newly recognized chip.This may facilitate the system accepting new chips and recognizing themas valid as long as the casino has approved the gaming companyidentifier associated with the chip.

Rules of Interpretation & General Definitions

Numerous embodiments are described in this disclosure, and are presentedfor illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, andare not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosedinvention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as isreadily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of allembodiments nor a listing of features of the invention that must bepresent in all embodiments.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thisdisclosure) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of this disclosure)is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosedinvention(s).

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter as contemplated by 35 U.S.C. § 101, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but notall) disclosed embodiments”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “the invention” and “the present invention” and the like mean“one or more embodiments of the present invention.”

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present disclosure, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”.

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficientantecedent basis.

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device or article is described herein, more than onedevice or article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively beused in place of the single device or article that is described.Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by adevice may alternatively be possessed by more than one device or article(whether or not they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein(whether or not they cooperate), a single device or article mayalternatively be used in place of the more than one device or articlethat is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devicesmay be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, thevarious functionality that is described as being possessed by more thanone device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single deviceor article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devicesthat are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality and/or features. Thus, other embodiments need not includethe described device itself, but rather can include the one or moreother devices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to eachother as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices thatare in communication with each other may communicate directly orindirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components and/or features arerequired. On the contrary, a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent and/or feature is essential or required.

Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be describedin a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work indifferent orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirementthat the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processesdescribed herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, somesteps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or impliedas occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is describedafter the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to theinvention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essentialor required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the describedinvention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of thedescribed steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required.Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s)include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

Headings of sections provided in this disclosure are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

“Determining” something can be performed in a variety of manners andtherefore the term “determining” (and like terms) includes calculating,computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or datastructure), ascertaining, recognizing, and the like.

A “display” as that term is used herein is an area that conveysinformation to a viewer. The information may be dynamic, in which case,an LCD, LED, CRT, LDP, rear projection, front projection, or the likemay be used to form the display. The aspect ratio of the display may be4:3, 16:9, or the like. Furthermore, the resolution of the display maybe any appropriate resolution such as 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p orthe like. The format of information sent to the display may be anyappropriate format such as standard definition (SDTV), enhanceddefinition (EDTV), high definition (HD), or the like. The informationmay likewise be static, in which case, painted glass may be used to formthe display. Note that static information may be presented on a displaycapable of displaying dynamic information if desired.

The present disclosure frequently refers to a “control system”. Acontrol system, as that term is used herein, may be a computer processorcoupled with an operating system, device drivers, and appropriateprograms (collectively “software”) with instructions to provide thefunctionality described for the control system. The software is storedin an associated memory device (sometimes referred to as a computerreadable medium). While it is contemplated that an appropriatelyprogrammed general purpose computer or computing device may be used, itis also contemplated that hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware (e.g.,an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) may be used in placeof, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation ofthe processes of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware and software.

A “processor” means any one or more microprocessors, CPU devices,computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or likedevices. Exemplary processors are the INTEL PENTIUM or AMD ATHLONprocessors.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium thatparticipates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read bya computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includeDRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission mediainclude coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmissionmedia may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves andelectromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during RF and IR datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, a dongle, anyother memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium fromwhich a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols. For amore exhaustive list of protocols, the term “network” is defined belowand includes many exemplary protocols that are also applicable here.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by a control system and/or theinstructions of the software may be designed to carry out the processesof the present invention.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models, hierarchicalelectronic file structures, and/or distributed databases) could be usedto store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise,object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implementvarious processes, such as those described herein. In addition, thedatabases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from adevice that accesses data in such a database. Furthermore, while unifieddatabases may be contemplated, it is also possible that the databasesmay be distributed and/or duplicated amongst a variety of devices.

As used herein a “network” is an environment wherein one or morecomputing devices may communicate with one another. Such devices maycommunicate directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium suchas the Internet, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), orEthernet (or IEEE 802.3), Token Ring, or via any appropriatecommunications means or combination of communications means. Exemplaryprotocols include but are not limited to: BLUETOOTH™, TDMA, CDMA, GSM,EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, AMPS, D-AMPS, IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP,SAS™ by IGT, SUPERSAS™, OASIS™ by Aristocrat Technologies, SDS by BallyGaming and Systems, ATP, TCP/IP, gaming device standard (GDS) publishedby the Gaming Standards Association of Fremont Calif., the best of breed(BOB), system to system (S2S), or the like. Note that if video signalsor large files are being sent over the network, a broadband network maybe used to alleviate delays associated with the transfer of such largefiles, however, such is not strictly required. Each of the devices isadapted to communicate on such a communication means. Any number andtype of machines may be in communication via the network. Where thenetwork is the Internet, communications over the Internet may be througha website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an onlinedata network including commercial online service providers, bulletinboard systems, and the like. In yet other embodiments, the devices maycommunicate with one another over RF, cellular networks, cable TV,satellite links, and the like. Where appropriate encryption or othersecurity measures such as logins and passwords may be provided toprotect proprietary or confidential information.

Communication among computers and devices may be encrypted to insureprivacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in theart. Appropriate cryptographic protocols for bolstering system securityare described in Schneier, APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS,AND SOURCE CODE IN C, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2d ed., 1996, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentdisclosure, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An RFID-enabled table system for facilitating agame, comprising: a plurality of player position antennas, each of theplayer position antennas corresponding to a respective player area of atable surface and operable to detect data relating to an RFID-enabledgaming element placed within the respective player area; a gamingelement container antenna operable to detect data relating to a gamingelement placed within the container; a display device; a processor; anda memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processorbeing operable with the memory to: direct the game element containerantenna to identify contents of the game element container by performingan inventory scan of the game element container; receive first data, thefirst data identifying the actual contents of the game element containerdetermined based on the inventory scan; receive second data, the seconddata indicating expected contents of the game element container, thesecond data being derived from information received from at least one ofthe player position antennas during game play for a current game event;identify a variance between the first data and the second data;correlate, based on the second data, the variance to at least one atleast one respective player position; and output an indication of thevariance and an indication of the at least one respective playerposition to a user of the table system.
 2. The RFID-enabled table systemof claim 1, further comprising: a dealer antenna corresponding to adealer area of a table surface and operable to detect data relating toan RFID-enabled gaming element placed within the dealer area.
 3. TheRFID-enabled table system of claim 2, wherein the processor is furtheroperable with the program to: receive, from the dealer antenna and forthe current game event, third data that identifies at least oneRFID-enabled game element placed within the dealer area.
 4. TheRFID-enabled table system of claim 3, wherein the processor is furtheroperable with the program to utilize the third data to verify at leastone of a Fill transaction, a buy-in transaction, a change transactionand a credit transaction.
 5. The RFID-enabled table system of claim 3,wherein the processor being operable with the program to identify thevariance between the first data and the second data comprises theprocessor being operable with the program to identify the variancefurther based on the third data.
 6. The RFID-enabled table system ofclaim 1, wherein processor being operable with the program to outputcomprises the processor being operable with the program to output theindication of the variance and the indication of the respective at leastone player position to a dealer of the game event via the displaydevice.
 7. The RFID-enabled table system if claim 1, wherein theprocessor being operable with the program to output comprises theprocessor being operable with the program to output an instruction tothe user to correct the variance.
 8. The RFID-enabled table system ofclaim 7, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:determine whether a value of the variance is greater than a minimumthreshold amount; and only output the instruction to the user if thevalue of the variance is greater than the minimum threshold amount. 9.The RFID-enabled table system of claim 7, wherein the variance comprisesat least one RFID-enabled game element that is expected to be in thegame element container but that is not detected in the game elementcontainer during the inventory scan and wherein the processor beingoperable with the program to output the instruction to the usercomprises the processor being operable with the program to output aninstruction to a dealer for the current game event instructing thedealer to collect the at least one RFID-enabled game element from aplayer participating in the game event.
 10. The RFID-enabled tablesystem of claim 7, wherein the variance comprises at least oneRFID-enabled game element that is not expected to be in the game elementcontainer but that is detected in the game element container during theinventory scan and wherein the processor being operable with the programto output the instruction to the user comprises the processor beingoperable with the program to output an instruction to a dealer of thecurrent game event instructing the dealer to provide the at least oneRFID-enabled game element to a player participating in the game event.11. The RFID-enabled table system of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther operable with the program to: identify an occurrence of an eventrelated to operations of the table system that, in accordance with theprogram, triggers an inventory scan of the game element container by thegaming element container antenna; and direct the game element containerantenna to perform the scan responsive to the occurrence of the event.12. The RFID-enabled table system of claim 11, wherein the eventcomprises an initiation of a new hand of the card game.
 13. TheRFID-enabled table system of claim 11, wherein the event comprisesdetermining, based on an assessment of a state of the game event by theprocessor, that a dealer for the game event has finished collecting andpaying monetary value for the current game event.
 14. The RFID-enabledtable system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable withthe program to: prevent a new hand of cards from being initiated by thetable system until the variance is resolved.
 15. The RFID-enabled tablesystem of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the programto output the indication of the variance and the indication of the atleast one respective player position further comprises the processorbeing operable with the program to: determine, based on the second data,at least one of a denomination and chip set defining at least oneRFID-enabled chip corresponding to the variance; and output to the useran indication of the at least one of the denomination and the chip set.16. The RFID-enabled table system of claim 1, wherein the processorbeing operable with the program to output the indication of the varianceand the indication of the at least one respective player positionfurther comprises the processor being operable with the program to:determine, based on the second data, a player identifier of a playercorresponding to the variance; and output to the user an indication ofthe player identifier.
 17. The RFID-enabled table system of claim 1,wherein the processor being operable with the program to identify thevariance between the first data and the second data comprises theprocessor being operable with the program to identify, by at least oneof denomination and chip set identifier, a specific number of RFID-gameelements comprising the variance.
 18. The RFID-enabled table system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:recognize a game element that has not previously been identified in adatabase of recognized game elements; obtain from data stored on thegame element a gaming company identifier of the game element; verify, bycomparing the gaming company identifier to a list of approved gamingcompany identifiers, that the game element is manufactured by anapproved gaming company; obtain additional data from the game element;and generate a new record in the database of recognized game elements,storing in the new record the game company identifier and the additionaldata.
 19. An RFID-enabled table system for facilitating a game,comprising: a dealer antenna corresponding to a dealer area of a tablesurface and operable to detect data relating to an RFID-enabled gamingelement placed within the dealer area; a plurality of player positionantennas, each of the player position antennas corresponding to arespective player area of a table surface and operable to detect datarelating to an RFID-enabled gaming element placed within the respectiveplayer area; a gaming element container antenna operable to detect datarelating to a gaming element placed within the container; a displaydevice; a processor; and a memory storing a program for directing theprocessor, the processor being operable with the memory to: receive arequest to facilitate a Fill transaction relating to the game elementcontainer; direct the game element container antenna to perform abaseline scan of inventory within the game element container prior tothe Fill transaction, thereby obtaining baseline inventory data; outputa first prompt, via the display device, for RFID-enabled game elementscomprising the Fill transaction to be placed in the dealer area;receive, from the dealer antenna, data indicating a value ofRFID-enabled game elements detected in the dealer area after the outputof the first prompt; output, via the display device, the value forverification; output a second prompt, via the display device andresponsive to receiving a verification of the value, for theRFID-enabled game elements comprising the Fill transaction to be addedto the game element container; direct the game element container antennato perform a second scan of inventory within the game element containerafter determining that the RFID-enabled game elements comprising theFill transaction have been added to the game element container, therebyobtaining second scan data; and verifying, based on the baseline scandata and the second scan data, that a value of RFID-enabled gameelements added to the game element container equals the value ofRFID-enabled game elements detected in the dealer area.
 20. AnRFID-enabled table system for facilitating a game, comprising: a dealerantenna corresponding to a dealer area of a table surface and operableto detect data relating to an RFID-enabled gaming element placed withinthe dealer area; a plurality of player position antennas, each of theplayer position antennas corresponding to a respective player area of atable surface and operable to detect data relating to an RFID-enabledgaming element placed within the respective player area; a gamingelement container antenna operable to detect data relating to a gamingelement placed within the container; a display device; a processor; anda memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processorbeing operable with the memory to: direct the game element containerantenna to perform an inventory scan to determine a value ofRFID-enabled game elements located within the game element container,thereby receiving current inventory data; identify, based on the currentinventory data, at least one RFID-enabled game element that was notdetected by at least one player position antenna during a most recentgame event and that was not previously detected by the game elementcontainer antenna in a most recent previous scan of contents of the gameelement container, thereby identifying at least one unexpectedRFID-enabled game element; determine a value of the at least oneunexpected RFID-enabled game element; match the value to data definingthe most recent game event; and change a status of the at least oneunexpected RFID-enabled game element to a indicate that it is faulty.21. The RFID-enabled system of claim 20, wherein the processor isfurther operable with the program to: output an instruction to casinopersonnel to remove the at least one unexpected RFID-enabled gameelement from the game element container.
 22. The RFID-enabled system ofclaim 20, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:determine, based on previous interrogations of the at least oneRFID-enabled game element, whether the at least one unexpectedRFID-enabled game element responded with all expected data; and onlychanging the status of the at least one unexpected RFID-enabled gameelement to indicate that it is faulty if the at least one unexpectedRFID-enabled game elements is determined to have failed to respond withall expected data in a minimum predetermined number of previousinterrogations.